Mark Murphy, the Green Bay Packers' president and chief executive officer, hasn’t changed his stance about retiring quarterback Brett Favre’s No. 4.Murphy expects Favre to be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in the summer of 2016, and he hopes to retire Favre’s number before that.“There’s been pretty open dialogue,” Murphy said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “I do anticipate that we will see that sooner rather than later.”Murphy said he couldn’t offer concrete details, but the Packers are hoping to bring Favre back into the fold.“We’d like to be able to retire his number and have him go into our Hall of Fame prior to 2016,” Murphy said.The Packers and Favre didn’t part on good terms. Favre announced his retirement from the Packers after the 2007 season, then changed his mind at the start of training camp. The Packers already had decided to go with Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback and traded Favre to the New York Jets in the summer of 2008.The jilted Favre expressed his displeasure with how he was treated by the Packers organization and general manager Ted Thompson.After one season in New York, Favre retired again, only to return and sign with the Packers’ division rival Minnesota Vikings.Many Packers fans who had been loyal Favre supporters were angry that the quarterback decided to play for the Vikings.The tension between Favre and the Packers has subsided since he retired for good after the 2010 season. Favre and Rodgers made a joint appearance on an NFL awards show last year, an indication the wounds are healing.Rodgers said last year that Favre deserves to have his No. 4 retired by the Packers, and Favre has seemed open to the idea. Five Packers players have had their numbers retired: Tony Canadeo (3), Don Hutson (14), Bart Starr (15), Ray Nitschke (66) and Reggie White (92)

Rachael J wrote:22 years ago today, the Packers traded a 1st-round pick to the Falcons for Brett Favre. Here's how it was covered on the front page the next day. Most people didn't know who Brett Favre was.

Manning's contract has a stipulation that requires the veteran quarterback to undergo an annual exam in order for him to play the following season. Manning, who is cleared to play in the 2014 season, is guaranteed his $20 million salary after receiving the doctor's approval.

If doctors would have discovered deterioration or new damage to Manning's neck, the Broncos could have voided his contract.

Manning is coming off a career season in which he threw for 55 touchdowns and 5,477 yards leading the Broncos to Super Bowl XLVIII.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe" - Friedrich Nietzsche